Two Under Transfer Preempt

This method was devised by Mr. Marty Bergen together with Mr. Larry Cohen and the convention uses a Preemptive Opening as an artificial Preempt at the Two Level and also at the Three Level and higher to indicate a specific suit two ranks higher than the bid suit.

This convention allows the responder to use the intermediate suit for an attempt at game. If the opener has minimum values, then he will make the cheapest possible bid over the game invitation. If the opener has maximum values, then he will make a higher bid, thereby giving the necessary information about his distribution.

It also allows the opener to show minimum values for his preempt, and in this fashion, both can stop the auction before going overboard. If the opener has more than just minimal values, both players can have the possible advantage of making the stronger hand the declarer.

If the responder also has no desire to bid game, then the responder simply bids the suit indicated by the Two-Under Transfer Preempt.

In explaining the convention it must be kept in mind that both players do not surrender the Strong Two Club Artificial Bid. Two Clubs remains strong. This means that a bid of Two Hearts is therefore a natural bid.

Opener Meaning

• 2 Shows a Weak Two Bid in Spades.
• 2 Shows a 3-Level Preempt in Clubs.
• 2 NT Shows a 3-Level Preempt in Diamonds.
• 3 Shows a 3-Level Preempt in Hearts.
• 3 Shows a 3-Level Preempt in Spades.
• 3 Shows a 4-Level Preempt in Clubs.
• 3 NT Shows a 4-Level Preempt in Diamonds.

A bid of 3 Spades is not included. This bid is used to show a distributional hand that could/would be opened with a Gambling Three No Trump bid, a hand with a long solid minor suit and no outside Aces or Kings.

There are some partnerships which have decided not to use the Two No Trump opening bid as a Diamond Preempt. The preference is that this bid should be a natural bid indicating a normal Two No Trump opening bid.

Let us assume the following two hands with distribution.

These two hands would normally be opened with a Preemptive Bid of 3 Spades, promising five or six Quick Tricks. However, it is noted that the two hands are distinctly different in their playing ability and strength. For the responder, it will be pure guesswork, if the opener begins the bidding with a Spade Preempt on the Three Level.

On the other hand, if the opener uses the Two-Under Transfer Preempt of 3 Diamonds to show length in Spades, the responder has then the chance to bid 3 Hearts, if the responder wishes to invite to 4 Spades. This bid is considered forcing.

It has been proven that it is more prudent to transfer to the stronger hand or to the hand with the greater length over and over again. This is the great advantage of the Transfer bid, that the lead might come up to a possible tenace position, thereby giving the declarer an additional trick.

As with all conventions, a system must be worked out for the responder. The responder must be in the position to describe his hand also. The responder must be able to make a forcing bid in order to gain more information from his partner. Following are the bids for the opener, whose partner has made a forcing bid.

The Rebid Pattern for the opener after opener has opened the bidding with 2 Diamonds and partner has responded 2 Hearts, which is a Forcing Bid.

• 2 : Shows minimum.
• 2 NT: Shows maximum with 3-4 Hearts.
• 3 : Shows maximum with a 5-card Spade suit.
• 3 : Shows maximum with a weak 6-card Spade suit.
• 3 : Shows maximum with a moderate 6-card Spade suit.
• 3 : Shows maximum with a good 6-card Spade suit.
• 3 NT: Shows a solid 6-card Spade suit.

If the opener rebids 2 No Trump, the responder has the option of bidding 3 Clubs to further investigate the accurate Major suit distribution of the opener. The rebids of the opener, to describe his hand further, follow.

• 3 : Distribution = 5 Spades and 3 Hearts
• 3 : Distribution = 5 Spades and 4 Hearts
• 3 : Distribution = 6 Spades and 3 Hearts
• 3 NT: Distribution = 6 Spades and 4 Hearts

If the opener bids a Three Level Preempt in Clubs and/or Diamonds, the responder again has the option of making a one-round forcing bid. The opener must describe his distribution further. This he can do by means of the following bids.

• 3 : Shows minimum.
• 3 : Shows a maximum with a 4-card Major.
• 3 : Shows a maximum with 3 Spades.
• 3 : Shows a maximum with 3 Hearts.
• 3 NT: Shows a maximum with no 3 or 4-card Major.

If the opener rebids 3 Diamonds, the responder has the option of bidding 3 Hearts to ask the opener which Major suit he has. The opener bids 3 Spades to show a 4-card Heart suit and 3 No Trump to show a 4-card Spade suit.

If the opener has opened the bidding with 2 Spades or 2 No Trump to transfer to Clubs and Diamonds respectively, the responder can bid 3 Clubs to invite to game. In this case, the rebids of the opener are as follows, which describe his hand further.

• 3 : Shows minimum.
• 3 : Shows a maximum with a 3 or 4 Spade suit.
• 3 : Shows a maximum with a 3 or 4 Heart suit.
• 3 NT: Shows a maximum with no 3 or 4-card Major.

If the opener preempts with an opening of 3 Clubs, transferring to Hearts, the responder can bid 3 Diamonds to invite to game, and this is a forcing bid. The opener can further describe his hand in the following manner.

• 3 : Shows minimum.
• 3 : Shows a maximum with a 6-card Heart suit.
• 3 NT: Shows a maximum with a 7-card Heart suit.

If the opener preempts with an opening of 3 Diamonds, transferring to Spades, the Responder can bid 3 Hearts to invite to game, and this is a forcing bid. The opener can further describe his hand in the following manner.

• 3 : Shows minimum.
• 3 NT: Shows a maximum with a 6-card Spade suit.
• 4 : Shows a maximum with a 7-card Spade suit.

If the opener preempts on the Four Level with 3 Hearts, indicating Clubs, the responder can bid 3 Spades to invite to game. In this case, the opener has two options to describe his hand further.

• 3 NT: Shows a minimum.
• 4 : Shows a maximum.

If the opener has a minimum, responder can stop at 3 No Trump. If the opener, however, shows a maximum, then the bidding becomes a little risky, but since the preempt is in Clubs, the responder can use his judgment to decide whether to pass 4 Clubs or to chance a 5 Clubs contract based upon his strength, length and distribution. The possibility of a slam is not ruled out.

If the opener bids 3 No Trump, indicating a Four Level Preempt in Diamonds, the responder can bid 4 Clubs to invite to game. The opener then has the possibility of describing his hand further with the following bids. Any bid above 4 Hearts then discloses the number of Key Cards he holds.

• 4 : Shows minimum.
• 4 : Shows maximum, 1 Key Card, without the Queen.
• 4 : Shows maximum, 1 Key Card, with the Queen.
• 4 NT: Shows maximum, 2 Key Cards, without the Queen.
• 5 : Shows maximum, 2 Key Cards, with the Queen.

If you wish to make the Two-Under Transfer Preempt a part of your Partnership Agreement, it must be noted that Two-Under Transfer Preempts are considered a superchart convention. This means that full disclosure must be made to your opponents on your Convention Card.